MR R. MOORE AT RANGIORA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5992, 29 July 1887, Page 3

MR R. MOORE AT RANGIORA.

Last night Mr R. Moore, a candidate for the Kaiapoi seat, addressed a meeting ofi electors at the Literary Institute Hall, Rangiora. There was a large attendance, fully 300 being present. His Worship the Mayor (Mr H. Boyd) occupied the chair, and, in introducing Mr Moore, bespoke for him ah attentive hearing.

Mr Moore, who was received with cheers, spoke as follows: — Once again in the history, of the Colony, when it is the privilege—not only the privilege but the duty— of the people of New Zealand to return representatives to the House of Assembly in order to carry on the business of the Colony. If we who are in New Zealand, either as native-born or as havifctg selected this country as the home of our adoption, wish to have that country governed in a generally good, satisfactory, and thoroughly democratic manner, as it should be for the people and by the people, we must at all times, and more particularly at a time like the present, when the Colony is in the throes of a general election, and when wa all know that the finances of the Colony in particular are in Buch an unsatisfactory state that we are now adding close upon JE20,000 every month to an already large deficit, which has accrued during the last financial year; and at a time when it is only likely to tax all th© energies and abilities of any strong and reliable Ministry that may be formed, or of the present Government, if it continues in charge of affairs, to pass the necessary measures of reform and retrenchment at may be required in order to obviate the necessity of placing a crushing taxation upon the shoulders of the people, and 80, that once more the finances of the Colony may be placed on a Bound and satis* factory basis, and the outcome of thia will be that we shall see our country in the not far distant future enjoying the measure of prosperity that the country with its vast natural resources ought to enjoy. Now, when we, as Colonists, have this privilege, and the opportunity of selecting from among ourselves suitable persons to represent us, I say, gentlemen, it is our bounden duty, and particularly at times such, as this, to give to the measured that are likely to occupy the attention w our next Parliament, our most earneil thought. If we wish, as I presume we do* to get our representatives to carry tm, thfl work fof the Colony, we must wwb that they should not only be a credit to them* selves, but also that they should gjv<( general satisfaction to those whom thei represent, and if our House of Represent* tives is to be, what it ought to" fee. a fair reflex of the people who elect it. (Applause.) If these are some of our desires, and, in my opinion, they ought to be, we cannot but look upon the present epoch, in the history., of New Zealand, but as a very grave and important one, and one to which we should all give our most earnest consideration. Gentle, men, it gives me great pleasure to see such a large number of the electors, which shows conclusively to my mind that not only a warm interest is taken in the elec; tion, but that you will do your duty aa ' electors in the coming struggle. My earnest wish is, as one of yourselves, aa one who has resided in and taken an into* rest in your district for a number of years, who ever you may select to be yonr representative, whether hebe the Hon Riohardson or myself, that representative will go tc Wellington with a full determination to dc his duty by his distriot and the Colony. And that he will be always found ready and willing to give expression to hia opinions and honeßt conviction without fear or favour, or the slightest regard to place or office, so long a3 he is satisfied that he is working for the good of his constituents and for the people of New Zealand. (Applause.) Gentlemen, a word or two regarding myself. I should not have troubled you in this direction to-night bnt from the fact that I am given to understand that come of the electors have expressed themeelves to the effect that it was somewhat premature for me to contest an election with so experienced a politician as the Minister

of Public Works. From the faot that I re-' ceived a requisition signed by some 450 electors, no apology is due from me for opposing Mr Riohardson, although I must admit that ho is a most formidable opponent, and that I have muoh to learn politi- 1 cally to meet him j_ but I may fairly claim, without, I hope, being considered egotistical, that I have served a fair apprenticeship so far as local government is concerned. (Applause.) I have been connected officially with a number of local institutions. I was elected one of the first members of the Charitable Aid Board, and continued on tho Board until the new regulations came into force amalgamating the four boroughs, whioh virtually disenfranchised this end of the distriot, a measure which I opposed strongly at the time, and one which should be altered at the earliest possible opportunity; and it will be my endeavour, if returned, to assist in getting some alteration made in this direction. Whilst touohing on the question of charitable aid, .although I know the Central Board is doing its work under existing cir- j cumstances as well as can be expected, yet I consider there shouldbemore local super- j vision in the distribution of aid in the ; different centres, so that no deserving; cases may be neglected, and to prevent im- ; position; and further, that urgent cases j may -bo more promptly attended to than voßsibly oan be By the Central Board. Ton are aware that I have been elected four years in succession for one of the Boroughs in your district, and therefore I claim, if I have carried out my duties in connection with the local offices I have held in a manner to give general satisfaction (and it ib for those for whom I have worked to give their verdiot whether I have done so or not), that I have a fair knowledge of local government work, and I consider that no person should aspire to the position of representing suoh an important distriot as this is unless he has served some apprenticeship, or has some experience in thiß class of work, enabling him to take an intelligent view of all Ipcal government measures that may be brought before the House. I consider that a luge portion of the work that is completed in our House of Representatives is built up on, or connected with, local institutions, and I look upon these institutions as stepping-stones by which those who take part in their working may aspire to the higher position of finally representing their distriot in Parliament. (Cheers.) Some objection is taken to my candidature because I reside in one end of the district, and am at the present time connected with several of the local institutions of Kaiapoi, and as Mayor of that Borough, I should be likely to favour it at the expense of Rangiora and other parts of the district. In referring to the first objection, if we are to bave one of ourselves to represent us, we must once and for all set aside that feeling of locality and division of interest, and pull together for the good of the district and the Colony generally. In reference to tho other objection, that owing to to my position I should favour Kaiapoi at the expense of other parts of the distriot. I may state that if lam elected, it ismy intention to retire from the local positions I hold before the end of the year. This brings me, gentlemen, to what are likely to be the measures that will have to occupy the attention of our next Parliament. And let me state that, without wishing to cast any reflection upon the present Government in particular, or any previous one, that I consider the finances, and tbe general affairs of the Colony, are at the present time in snoh an unsatisfactory condition that I should hardly think, or anticipate, that the time of the House will be taken up for some time to come in considering what might be termed questions of an abstract nature, such, for instance, aa the Federation of the Australian Colonies, Imperial Federation,' annexation of the islands in the South Pacifio, or any outside question of this sort. Because I consider lib will tax the united energy and combined ability of the House to deal with such questions as finance, retrenchment, reform of railway administration, and, I hope, an alteration in the constitution of, +,h« Trf>osi_lativ<_ Council, and in other subjects directly bearing on or connected with, the present position of the Colony from a praotical and business point of view.

FINANCE AND BETBBNCHHBNT.

I consider the present time of the most importance, and will have, in my opinion, to be worked, in a great measure, hand in hand, or, perhaps, I should say, retrenchment will have to materially assist finance. If the business of the Colony is to be carried on in a proper manner, and ita credit to be kept good without adding year after year a large defioit to what iB an already large consolidated debt to pay the interest on, which at the present time very heavily taxes, the resources of the Colony, we are to make a firm and honest attempt to obviate the necessity of placing a crushing incubna upon the people. (Applause.) Gentlemen, we must all notice that from one end of New Zealand to the other, from the political discussion going on, there is a growing conviction of the urgent necessity for a thorough system of retrenchment; and as one who has for some- time been thoronghly convinced, and one who has always stated, in my opinion the Colony would never be in a satisfactory or prosperous condition until its business was carried on in a less extravagant manner. It will be a source of great satisfaction to me to see that, if we return the right clas? of men, those will be the men, J now that the people are thoroughly aroufled to the absolute necessity of going in for economy, likely to be backed up by the people in any fair measures of retrenchment tbat they may deem expedient to carry oat. Gentlemen, it would be hardly advisable lor me, and might appear somewhat presuming on my part in addressing you lor the first time to-night, to attempt to go into matters of detail in connection with so large a subjeot, but I am so thoroughly convinced of the urgent necessity ior immediate reform in this direction, that you may f.\j, should I be eleoted, on my giving every measure that may be brought befoxe the House, with thip object in view, ray most earnest consideration, and assisting, so far as it lies in my power, to carry ont the reforms reqt&ea in a fair and reasonable manner — (applause)— without the slightest intention or desire to do anything detrimental to any particular olass of persons, or in any way to do what I might consider would endanger the general welfare of the Colony.

LEGISLATURE.

Without going into details in reference to reduotion in the Legislative expenditure, I consider there is ample room for a large saving in this direction, and if we expect to economise in a fair manner we must begin af the fountain head.. When the pr4j.6n6 Governor's term of office expires, alteration Bhould be made here as well as in 6sier high departments. (Applause.) I consider it absurd to expect the. people to but up with large additional taxation, pamotdarly at a time like the present when most places throughout the Colony are suffering from a general state of impeounioaity — when, in fact, this depression had prevailed for suoh a length of time that some of our most enterprising and sterling Colonists are feeling the effects of it, 'and some even appear to entertain the idea that the disoase is chronic. I say again, it is absurd to expect the people to Bubmit to further taxation in times like theße, when the heads of the Government are drawing something like £12 per diem for every day that thoy aro travelling about the country. (Applause.) Closely connected with the question of retrenchment is the question of

BOBBOWING,

Por all the time we are prepared to go on with borrowing a few millions of money, so long will there be an inducement to go in for a lavish expenditure ; for each million borrowed will in all probability mean a further scramble on the floor of the House among different representatives for some local work for their respective district. I consider it is only in the most urgent cases, and where it is clearly shown that the Colony would suffer by not completing special works that borrowing ought to be sanctioned at all. (Applause.) My own feelings are that we should stop borrowing if possible altogether, or at least for a time. For us the Premier some time baojc very wisely and respectfully pointed out every million now borrowed means another jt&O/JOO additdonaltaxation, unless,

of course, it can be clearly shown that the works upon which it is spent is without a doubt reproductive. (Applause.) Now a word about onr

RAILWAYS.

I waß one of the many who, at the time the present Minister of Publio Works addressed the electors at Kaiapoi the first time, felt highly pleased at the remarks he made in reference to the railway management, and at the promises he made of assisting to bring abont a radical reform in their administration. And again some time after, when I believe he had joined the present Ministry, he most distinctly stated that only for the fact that he expected to be in a position to bring in a measure to place our railways under the control of non - political Boards, something similar to those they have in Victoria, he would not havo consented to take the position of Minister of Publio Works, or even have joinod the present Ministry, so strongly did he feel on the question of railway reform. Gentlemen, some three years have come and gone since then, during- the most of which time the Hon Mr Riohardson has had the sole control of our railways, and you have had ample opportunity of judging for yourselves as to whether the pledges he then made have been carried out or not, and as to whether it is fair or reasonable that wo in Canterbury, both farmers and merohants, should have to pay higher rates for getting our produce to a port than they have to pay in other part 3 of the Colony, whioh there is_»now doubt we are doing, at the prescnt;tiine. (Applause.) I would now ask you to compare tne statements I have just referred to with tho speech the hon gentleman made on this subject to the people of Kaiapoi a few months back, when he completely condemned in no measured terms the idea of non-political Railway Boards, and explained the provisions of a Bill which he had prepared to bring into existence, what I might call a number of political Boards, which to my mind, and I think yo^ will agree with me when I say bo, was nothing more or less than an endeavour to constitute a number of expensive Boards without any real powers, but only to act aB a sort of buffer between the responsible Minister of the day and the goneral publio. (Applause.) Tou will think with me that if we had two simple non-political Boards, one for the North Island and one for the South, with the accounts in connection kept separate, we in Cantarbury and Otago should not be so heavily taxed as we are at present for the use of our railways. (Applause.) Gentlemen, I suppose you will expect me to say a word or two, or express myself on a question which is exercising the minds of a great many people at the present time. I refer to the question of

INDUSTRIES.

LOCAL

My sympathies are now, and always have been, in the direction of establishing and encouraging industries that are natural or adapted to the Colony to any fair or reasonable extent, for I consider we in New Zealand are somewhat differently situated to what they are in some of the older countries where they have what I might call an excessive population, and where they have to import from other places a large quantity of the raw material they require for manufacturing purposes, and have in a great measure to rely on the outside and new countries for tho food supply for their people, whilst here we have in abundance and have to rely on outside markets for the disposal of our productions. I consider if we can, without absolutely over forcing, establish industries that will thrive in our midst, ahd that will help to give steady and healthy employment to the people, we may fairly, and in fact it is our duty to do so j but not to go in for an extreme protective policy, a_ some people appear to wish, even so far as to impose a 50 or !60 per cent duty. I consider that any 1 industry that requires such assistance cannot possibly be natural or adapted to the Colony. Then, again, we must get a certain amount of revenue through the Customs Tariff, and we should so arrange it that, while not imposing too much duty on the everyday necessaries of life that cannot be produced here, but with a view to fostering our industries j and by doing so assist to make a home market for our produce without unduly taxing the producer. (Applause.) In reference to EDUCATION. As one who has been a member of a School Committee for a number of years, and has taken a great interest in our present national free and compulsory system, I should never be a party to do anything that would be likely to injure the efficiency of our present primary schools.' But if we are compelled by force of circumstances to make any alteration, it should, perhaps, be in the direction of raising the school age from five to cix years, or culling off some of the assistance that is now being given to higher education; and giving scholarships for the benefit of any intelligent or bright children. (Applause.) HIDiAND RAILWAY. I notice that Sir Julius Yogel, when addressing his constituents in Christchuroh, said it was probable some slight concessions might have to be made in connection with the contract for the Midland Bailway. Altogether, I have expressed disapproval of the Meiggs contract, on the r rounds of its being unfair to Canterbury, am quite satisfied with the present contract, and if ib were found necessary, I would be prepared to make any reasonable concession that might be required in order to seoure that railway; and should any further obstacle to its construction be thrown in the way, I hope that the Canterbury members will be found equal to the occasion. (Applause.)

CONCLUSION.

Mr Moore, in conclusion, denied most emphatically that he had heen induced to come forward by the Political Beform Association, or that he was a supporter of the Atkinson Party. He had simply come forward as a local man to oppose the Hon E. Riohardson, and would give his support if elected to measures and not men. He heartily thanked the meeting for the patient hearing they had accorded him, and expressed his readiness to answer any questions. He then resumed his scat pmidst hearty applause.

QUESTIONS,

Ia reply to Ivlr Ridley, Mr Mooiie said if compelled to make any alteration, he would shorten the years that children were forced to attend school nnder the compulsory clause. He thought pupil-teachers were not overpaid. He thought all Government contracts for railways or other works should he gazetted or advertised. To Mr Todd, he said he thought that Road Boards should he able to manage their drainage. He could not act as their legal adviser. To Mr F. Stevens, he said he thought it was a pity that the Government had not made the Ashley railway-bridge a traffic bridge. He thought it was a matter for the Local Bodies. If they elected him, he would try and get what was fair and reasonable done. To Mr C. King : He proposed to raise revenue by making every effort to retrench, and should be opposed to placing heavy duties on the necessaries of life. Some industries are now protected to the extent of 20 per cent. He did not think any industry should be protected more than that, To Mr Anderson: He presumed when the House met the Speech from the Throne would foreshadow the policy of the Government. If he found the measures they brought down were similar to thoße he had advocated that night, he should support the present Government. He must be allowed to use his reasoning powers to a certain extent. To Mr Pulton : He said that in talking about railway reform, he could hardly be expected to say how he proposed to retrench in this direction. He thought it was absurd not to have return tickets. To Mr Morrell : He thought a great reduction might be wade in the number of members. If any motion of this kind was brought forward he would support it. He thought eight hours was a fair day's work' but men should have the privilege of working longer hours if they liked, as overtime. To Mr A. Ellis: He thought it was too muoh to ask him if he would be in favour of abolishing the Upper House. He thought it ought to he reconstituted. He did not think at present it would be advisable to alter the Property-tax. He was not in faTour of cumulative voting for elec-

tion of School Committees. To Mr Ivory : He could hardly say his views differed very materially from Mr Richardson's. He thought it was advisable to have a local man as a representative. He should be happy, under the head of retrenchment, to do away with all the hangers-on at Parliament House.

Mr T. Smith said it was most gratifying to hear the able speech made by Mr Moore. He waa the man who would support measures mot men. He would now propose a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. The motion was seconded by Mr Ridley.

Mr W. Mardon moved, as an amendment — "That a vote of thanks only be accorded."

This was seconded by Mr C. King. On the amendment being put, 52 hands were held up. The motion was then put, and 72 hands being held up it was declared carried amidst loud cheering. Mr Mooeb returned hearty thanks for the very gratifying vote of confidence so substantially accorded him, and then moved a vote of thanks to the chair, which concluded the proceedings.